JP3702782B2 - Facsimile server - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a facsimile server that can be connected to a computer communication network such as a LAN, and more particularly, to a facsimile server having a distribution function to clients and other terminals.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, a facsimile server has a facsimile communication function using a general G3 system, an Internet FAX (facsimile) function for transmitting and receiving image data such as an original by electronic mail, a distribution function for distributing received data to a predetermined destination, and the like. The received G3 FAX, Internet FAX, etc. can be distributed to other G3 FAX, Internet FAX, salutation clients, etc. according to the setting information stored in the facsimile server itself.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the image data received by the facsimile server is distributed to a plurality of destinations, each distribution destination terminal cannot know the other distribution destinations, which is often inconvenient for the user. For example, a user at a certain distribution destination terminal has received a document that is important in terms of content from a customer via the facsimile server, but it can definitely be transferred to another distribution destination in accordance with the distribution conditions of the preset facsimile server. There are times when it is necessary to check whether or not a message has been delivered. However, in many cases, it is not possible to know the delivery destination on your own terminal. In this case, you have to go to the facsimile server and check the delivery conditions that you have set, or check directly with all the people who should be delivered. did not become.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in the case where the facsimile server distributes to a plurality of destinations, the present invention distributes so that each distribution destination can easily know other distribution destinations. An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile server.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a facsimile server according to claim 1 is a facsimile server having a function of distributing received data to a plurality of destinations according to a protocol other than e-mail and e-mail. When delivering, destination information notifying means for notifying each delivery destination of destination information about other delivery destinations, and when the delivery destination is an email address, the destination information notifying means includes an electronic mail in the email body. It is characterized in that it is transmitted including destination information about other delivery destinations by mail and other delivery destinations by a protocol other than electronic mail.
[0006]
The facsimile server according to claim 2 is the facsimile server according to claim 1, wherein when the distribution destination is other than an e-mail address, the destination information notifying means sends another e-mail to other distribution destinations and e-mails. It is characterized in that an image file for displaying destination information about other distribution destinations by a protocol other than the above is generated, and the image file is inserted into an image file related to received data to be distributed and transmitted.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a facsimile server according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a specific configuration example of the facsimile server 1. The facsimile server 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 3, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 4, a codec 5, a modem 6, an NCU (Network Control Unit) 7, a reading unit 8, and a recording unit. 9. An operation unit 10 and a LAN I / F 11 are provided, and the devices 2 to 11 are connected to each other by a bus 12 so that they can communicate with each other.
[0009]
The CPU 2 controls each device constituting the facsimile server 1 according to a predetermined program.
[0010]
The RAM 3 is a storage unit for storing image data, FAX numbers, mail addresses, distribution data tables (to be described later), setting information for various operations of the facsimile server 1, or various data temporarily stored. Functions as a storage unit.
[0011]
The ROM 4 stores various programs for the CPU 2 to control the operation of each part of the facsimile server 1.
[0012]
The codec 5 performs encoding (encoding) and decoding (decoding) corresponding to a plurality of protocols. That is, the image data read by the reading unit 8 is encoded by the MH, MR, MMR method or the like for transmission, and the received image data is decoded. Also, encoding and decoding can be performed in correspondence with a TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) format which is a commonly used image format used in computers. The TIFF specification is published by Adobe System in the United States, and as the name suggests, data is expressed using tags in the data blocks in the file, and the resolution and number of colors differ depending on the tag used. Multiple image data can be stored simultaneously.
[0013]
The modem 6 is, for example, an ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union) recommendation V.3. Modulate and demodulate transmitted / received data according to the 34 standard or the like.
[0014]
The NCU 7 is a line network control device that controls a telephone line to make or cut a call, and is connected to a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) 13.
[0015]
The reading unit 8 reads image data of a document and outputs image data converted into black and white.
[0016]
The recording unit 9 is made of, for example, an electrophotographic system, and records received image data on a recording sheet. For example, the original image data read by the reading unit 8 or the image data received by facsimile is printed out in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 2.
[0017]
The operation unit 10 includes, for example, a display 10a for displaying information on the state of the facsimile server 1, various operation instruction screens, a numeric keypad 10b for inputting a FAX number, a short key 10c for calling from a short number, A start key 10d for starting a document reading operation, a cursor key 10e for moving a cursor in the display 10a, and the like are provided. Various operations are performed by the operation unit 10.
[0018]
The LAN I / F 11 includes an interface with a LAN (local area network) 14 and connects the LAN 14 and the facsimile server 1 so as to communicate with each other.
[0019]
The facsimile server 1 having the above hardware configuration is installed and used in a network environment A shown in FIG. 2, for example. That is, the facsimile server 1 is connected to the mail server 15, the router 16, the clients 17A to 17C, and the mail client 18 through the LAN 14 so as to communicate with each other. Accordingly, the facsimile server 1 can further transmit / receive to / from the Internet FAX 19 via the Internet via the mail server 15 and the like, and can also transmit / receive to / from the G3 FAX 20 and the salutation FAX 21 via the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) 13. . The salutation FAX 21 is a facsimile terminal having a function for dealing with a salutation protocol. The salutation protocol is a communication protocol for identifying and managing computers and office devices on the Internet, a LAN, or the like. is there. The protocol is published by the Salutation Consortium.
[0020]
The facsimile server 1 includes a general G3 facsimile communication function, an Internet facsimile function for transmitting and receiving image data such as originals by e-mail, a distribution function for distributing received data to a predetermined destination, an F-code communication function, A function for dealing with the salutation protocol is provided. The F-code communication is a function of communicating using a subaddress and a password in accordance with the ITU-T standard. From this F-code communication function, a facsimile having another F-code communication function can be used. The received image data and the like can be automatically distributed to a preset distribution destination according to the received subaddress and password.
[0021]
In order to realize the Internet facsimile function, the facsimile server 1 implements TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) and uses image data such as a manuscript as an attachment file of an e-mail, thereby The image data and the like are transmitted and received together with the text. When communicating image data such as a document using this Internet facsimile function, the facsimile server 1 transmits G3 format data to the TIFF format described above by a predetermined conversion program stored in advance in the ROM 4 or the like at the time of transmission. Is converted into text and further converted into text according to MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) Base64 or the like, and sent as an e-mail attachment. At the time of reception, the electronic mail attachment file is decrypted into TIFF format data and converted from TIFF format to G3 format data.
[0022]
According to the distribution function, a distribution destination is determined based on distribution information stored in the RAM 3. The distribution information stored in the RAM 3 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, destination information about a distribution destination of received data is stored as a distribution data table 23, and the distribution destination is stored in the distribution data table 23. To be determined.
[0023]
Based on the distribution data table 23, the facsimile server 1 distributes all received data to the client 17A designated as the distribution destination 23a, and a predetermined transmission source FAX number 23b is a TSI signal (transmission terminal) of the reception data. If it is specified from the identification signal), it is distributed to the client 17B and the client 17A designated as the destination 23c, and if the sub-address 23d and the password 23e are received by the F-code communication function, the destination 23f is designated. If the received Internet FAX mail address is a predetermined mail address 23g, the mail client 18, the client 17B and the client 17C specified as the destination 23h are distributed to the client 17C and the client 17A. Carry out the delivery to the client 17A. Note that the received data from the salutation FAX 21 is received by the facsimile server 1 from the clients 17A to 17C even if not specified in the distribution data table 23 if there is a predetermined instruction of the salutation FAX 21. Deliver data.
[0024]
Further, the facsimile server 1 includes means for notifying each delivery destination of destination information about other delivery destinations when delivering received data to a plurality of destinations. For example, when the delivery destination is an e-mail address, the means includes other (all other than the e-mail address) destination information in the body 25 of the e-mail as shown in FIG. If the distribution destination is other than an e-mail address, an image file 26 for displaying the destination information 26a is generated as shown in FIG. 4 (b). This is distributed together with the received image data 27. Alternatively, depending on user settings in the facsimile server 1, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), the destination information 28a is included in so-called attribute information 28 composed of text data such as “reception source”, “reception time”, and “number of pages”. To be delivered. In many cases, attribute information is not displayed, printed out, or the like unless a predetermined operation is performed at each distribution destination. Therefore, when there is no need to know another distribution destination, unnecessary display is omitted. be able to.
[0025]
Hereinafter, the operation of the facsimile server 1 when the facsimile server 1 performs facsimile reception (including reception of Internet FAX) will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. This operation is performed according to a command issued by the CPU 2 based on a control program or the like stored in the ROM 4. In the facsimile server 1, it is assumed that a destination to be distributed is set in advance by an operator or the like before reception, and the data table 23 is generated and stored in the RAM 3.
[0026]
First, when the facsimile server 1 receives a facsimile or an electronic mail (S1), the facsimile server 1 determines whether there is a delivery destination based on the data table 23 (FIG. 3) (S2), and further It is determined whether there are a plurality of delivery destinations (S3). If there are a plurality of delivery destinations, the data to be delivered is subjected to processing for notifying destination information (S4), and then the data is delivered to each destination (S5). On the other hand, if there is no delivery destination in S2, the received image data is subjected to a predetermined process and printed on the recording paper by the recording unit 9 (S6). In S3, when the delivery destination is singular, delivery is performed to the destination as usual without performing the processing (S5).
[0027]
Next, the details of the process of S4 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. First, it is determined whether one of the plurality of distribution destinations is an e-mail address (S11). When this distribution destination is an e-mail address, an e-mail body 25 as shown in FIG. 4A including destination information other than the distribution destination is generated (S12).
[0028]
On the other hand, if it is determined in S11 that the delivery destination is other than the e-mail address, it is next determined whether or not to generate an image file in accordance with a preset user setting (S13). . When the setting for generating an image file is made, an image file 26 for displaying destination information of a delivery destination other than the delivery destination as shown in FIG. 4B is created (S14), A process of inserting the image file 26 into the first page of the image file 27 related to the received data to be distributed is performed (S15). If it is not set to generate an image file in S13, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), the attribute information including text data such as the transmission source, the reception time, the number of pages, and the like is not included in the distribution destination The destination information of the delivery destination is included (S16), and the destination information can be displayed as a part of the attribute information by performing a predetermined operation at the delivery destination terminal. As described above, the processes of S11 to S15 are repeatedly executed until all the delivery destinations are performed (S17).
[0029]
The received data distributed as described above is displayed at each distribution destination because the destination information about the distribution destination is displayed in the e-mail body, or the destination information is displayed on the first page of the distributed document. Therefore, the user of each distribution destination terminal can know at a glance to which terminal other than his / her own terminal the received data is distributed. In addition, when the setting for including the destination information is specified in the attribute information, in many cases, the destination information is not displayed unless a predetermined operation is performed at the distribution destination terminal. For users who do not need to know the destination information, there is an advantage that wasteful display, wasteful discharge of recording paper, and the like can be omitted.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
When the facsimile server according to claim 1 distributes received data to a plurality of destinations by a function for distributing the received data to a plurality of destinations according to a protocol other than e-mail and e-mail, destination information on other distribution destinations is sent to each distribution destination. Destination information notifying means for notifying, and when the delivery destination is an e-mail address, the destination information notifying means includes other delivery destinations by e-mail and other delivery destinations by a protocol other than e-mail. Therefore, an operator at a delivery destination terminal or the like can easily know destination information about other delivery destinations. For this reason, it is possible to save the trouble of confirming to which other terminal the received image data is distributed at each distribution destination. In addition, since the destination information is displayed in a text that is often opened first on the e-mail receiving side, there is an advantage that it is less likely that the destination information is added.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a facsimile server according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a network environment according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a distribution data table referred to for determining a distribution destination of received data.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for processing of received data to be distributed performed for each distribution destination.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation when a facsimile server receives a facsimile.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation when the facsimile server processes distribution data for each distribution destination.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Facsimile server 2 CPU
3 RAM
4 ROM
23 Distribution data table 25 E-mail text 25a, 26a Destination information 26 Image file

Claims (2)

In a facsimile server having a function of delivering received data to a plurality of destinations according to a protocol other than e-mail and e-mail,
When delivering to a plurality of destinations by the function, a destination information notifying unit for notifying each destination of destination information about other destinations is provided, and the destination information notifying unit is provided when the destination is an e-mail address. Is a facsimile server characterized in that the e-mail body includes destination information about other delivery destinations by e-mail and other delivery destinations by a protocol other than e-mail.   When the delivery destination is other than an email address, the destination information notifying unit displays an image file that displays destination information about other delivery destinations by email and other delivery destinations by a protocol other than email. 2. The facsimile server according to claim 1, wherein the facsimile server generates and inserts the image file into an image file related to received data to be distributed.

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